Dance Class Descriptions

Dance Class Descriptions

Intro Dance - (2yr olds - 45 min. class)

This is a beginning dance class for a 2 year olds. It explores movement and dance in a fun, playful manner. The class is 45 minutes in length and incorporates basics of ballet, rhythm and tumble. Students need to wear a leotard, tights, and ballet shoes. This class takes part in our holiday tea parties and our end of year recital.

Dancin’ Drama Queens (3-4 yr olds - Dance + Drama - 2hr class)

This is a 2 hour combined class. The students will have a traditional dance class then take a short snack break (snack provided by GADA) before having a creative drama class using a story to initiate dramatic activities, exercises, crafts and games. (Kids are separated into age 3 and age 4. 3 year olds start with dance class first, 4 year olds start with drama class first.)

Students need leotard, tights, tap and ballet shoes (tap shoes if they are 4). This class takes part in our holiday tea parties and performs a ballet dance during the end of year recital. (4 year olds also perform a tap dance.)

Creative Movement I (3-4 yr olds - 45 min)

This is a dance class designed for the brain and muscle development of three year olds, turning four, throughout the school year. It is a guided class that explores dance through imagery and props. The class is 45 minutes in length and incorporates basics of ballet, rhythm and tumble. Students need leotard, tights, and ballet shoes. This class takes part in our holiday tea parties and performs a ballet dance during the end of year recital.

Creative Movement II (4-5 yr olds - 1 hr class)

This is a dance class designed for the brain and muscle development of four year olds, turning five, throughout the school year. It is a guided class that explores dance through imagery and props. The class is 1 hour in length and incorporates basics of ballet, tap and tumble. Students need leotard, tights, tap and ballet shoes. This class takes part in our holiday tea parties and performs a tap and ballet dance during the end of year recital.

Ballet/Tap COMBO I (kinder)

This is a dance class designed for the brain and muscle development of five year olds, turning six, throughout the school year (kindergarten). The instruction is split between ballet and tap (half hour each). Students are still instructed with imagery and creative aspects, while moving them towards the leveled class demands.

Students need leotard, tights, tap and ballet shoes. This class takes part in our holiday tea parties and performs a tap and ballet dance during the end of year recital.

Ballet/Tap COMBO II (first grade)

This is a dance class designed for the brain and muscle development of six year olds, turning seven, throughout the school year (first grade). The instruction is split between ballet and tap (half hour each). Students are still instructed with imagery and creative aspects, while moving them towards the leveled class demands.

Students need leotard, tights, tap and ballet shoes. This class takes part in our holiday tea parties and performs a tap and ballet dance during the end of year recital.

Ballet

Ballet is a classical dance form characterized by grace and precision of movement and by elaborate formal gestures, steps, and poses. Ballet classes perform ballet dances during the end of year recital.

Tap

Tap is a dance performed wearing shoes with metal taps, recognized by rhythmic tapping of the toes and heels. Tap classes perform tap dances during the end of year recital.

Jazz

Jazz is a classification shared by a broad range of dance styles. Before the 1950s, jazz dance referred to dance styles that originated from African American vernacular dance. In the 1950s, a new genre of jazz dance — modern jazz dance — emerged, with roots in Caribbean traditional dance. Every individual style of jazz dance has roots traceable to one of these two distinct origins. Jazz was a big hit in the early 50’s and it is still a well loved style of dance all over the world. Today’s jazz classes incorporate a variety of styles, while working traditional jazz technique, turns, leaps and stylizations. Jazz classes perform jazz dances during the end of year recital.

Hip-Hop

Hip-Hop originated as a street dance, very urban, very funky. Younger hip-hop classes express lots of style and rhythm, as they achieve simple coordination goals. As levels increase, more detail is given to style and execution of movements. This class performs a hip-hop dance during the end of year recital. Dancers who would like additional performing experience should look into the “electricks” hip-hop group.

Drill Prep

Drill Prep is a class geared towards the goal of making a high school dance team or drill team. Emphasis is placed on team-oriented dance, such as kick lines, turns, leaps, etc. Exposure is also given to the variety of routines a team learns, the audition process, and flexibility/strength of a dancer. This class performs a dance in the end of year recital, as well as a possible additional community performance.

Drill Prep Contemporary

Drill Prep Contemporary is a class geared towards the goal of making a high school dance team or drill team. However, this class is more geared towards the fluidity needed for the contemporary dance style. Ballet and modern are both pulled into this class. This class performs a dance during the end of year recital.

Musical Theater

Singing, Acting, and Dance are incorporated into this wonderful American art form. Short pieces are studied and performed during informal in-class presentations from various musicals throughout the year. This class takes part in a holiday caroling event, as well as performs a musical theater piece during the end of year recital.

Lyrical

Lyrical dance literally emerged from one’s expressing the “lyrics” of a song through dance. It often blends ballet and jazz styles to form an emotional, fluid dance form. This class performs a lyrical dance during the end of year recital.

Turns and Leaps

The turns and leaps class is a technique based class that does not perform in the end of year recital. Instead class time is spent perfecting various leaps and turns through exercises, across the floor, flexibility work, etc.

Stretch and Strength

The stretch and strength class is a technique class that does not perform in the end of year recital. instead class time is spent stretching muscles and developing core work. This is a great class for students looking to strengthen core, increase flexibility, or cross-train with other dance disciplines!

SMALL GROUP Technique

The small group technique class uses jazz as a base towards small group instruction. Lessons are detailed to specifically target goals of students, as classes are limited to 5 students. It is like a private lesson, but in a small group setting!

Contemporary

Contemporary dance often blends modern and jazz dance together, to create this latest dance craze. Students must be enrolled in ballet classes to take these classes. This class performs a contemporary dance during the end of year recital.